Unexpected Wonders: A Day of Discovery in Nature

Sometimes, the most meaningful moments at camp happen when plans take an unexpected turn. For one staff member, a morning of reluctant campers and a trip to a community garden became an afternoon full of curiosity, discovery, and a renewed appreciation for the natural world. Read this account of how one unexpected day at camp served as a reminder of the wonder found in nature.

“My favorite day of camp this summer came quite unexpectedly, to both myself and my campers. I told my campers we were going to volunteer at a community garden, to much groaning and eye-rolling. No matter what I said about the joys of learning where good food comes from or the opportunities to help others, they remained unconvinced this would be anything but the most miserable time of the week. We went anyway.

We packed out our lunch and drove to the community garden in Luray, and after a short game about how far food travels before we eat it, the kids were set to weed the plant beds, and their boredom gave way to curiosity. Surrounded by the unfamiliar shapes of vegetables and herbs in their infancy, the campers started asking questions, and the lovely person leading the volunteer activity gladly answered, showing them a few plants they could eat. We all got flowers, grown to add a splash of color and invite pollinators; then in a flash we were back in the van. But the kids weren’t ready to go back to the schedule! An impromptu suggestion, and a great hope from me that we might actually be enjoying ourselves in nature, led to a detour at St. John’s field for a midday picnic down by the big spring.

To my surprise and great joy, the curiosity from the garden managed to clamber up the mountain after this, and my campers were all questions. About plants, about gardens and growth, the soil and sun, about the blossoming way their smiles flowered about their faces when they felt warm earth on their skin. They talked all on their own about how peaceful and calming it was to be out in nature, away from the rigor of a child’s scheduled life and the constant stream of information, from both the world and their devices. All they wanted to do was run around in the sun, and with nothing more important than their wonder, I let them. I ran around with them, all that green around us and fresh, clean air in our lungs. They told me that the world felt more real then.”

– ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE INTERN

For those interested in serving as a Cabin Leader during the 2027 summer camp sessions, consider submitting an application by visiting our website.